Trust puts its faith in jailing visitors

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Melbourne's tourists will soon be tried, convicted and sent to
jail, if the National Trust has its way.

The organisation has an ambitious plan to create a large
precinct in the city, encompassing historic buildings with links to
the justice system.

The project, with the working title of "Old Legal Precinct",
takes in the Old Melbourne Gaol in Russell Street, two courtrooms
at the Old Magistrates Court on the corner of Russell and La Trobe
streets, and the city's former watch-house.

Trust chief executive Stephen Hare said the precinct would focus
on the role of justice in the city's evolution.

"We are targeting an outstanding cultural experience that will
be quite different to what's been seen in Melbourne before," he
said.

"It's really got us buzzing in here. We're looking at a project
that is quite uniquely Australian."

Old Melbourne Gaol receives about 140,000 visitors a year,
mainly international and interstate tourists.

Mr Hare said the new precinct was aimed at boosting its appeal
to Victorians.